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American imperialism

Definition

American imperialism refers to the expansionist policies and actions of the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, wherein it sought to extend its political, economic, and military influence over other countries or regions.

Analogy

Imagine you have a group of friends who always want to be in charge of deciding what games to play and where to go. They constantly try to exert their influence over others by convincing them that their ideas are the best. This is similar to how American imperialism involved the U.S. trying to control and influence other nations.

Related terms

Colonialism: Colonialism refers to a practice where a powerful country establishes control over a weaker nation or territory for economic exploitation or political dominance.

Open Door Policy: The Open Door Policy was a diplomatic initiative proposed by the United States in late 19th century China, which aimed at ensuring equal access for all countries to trade with China.

Yellow Journalism: Yellow journalism refers to sensationalized news reporting that exaggerates stories and uses misleading headlines in order to attract readership. It played a significant role in shaping public opinion on American imperialistic ventures.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.